{"id":549889,"date":"2026-04-25T11:07:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T11:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/549889\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T11:07:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T11:07:20","slug":"the-emperor-has-almost-no-clothes-says-commenter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/549889\/","title":{"rendered":"“The Emperor has (almost) no clothes,” says commenter"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this week’s comments update, readers are discussing BIG’s designs for the riverside Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Set to be covered with a cascading curtain of metal pipes, the project drawing reference from a theatre curtain. According to BIG<\/a> founder Bjarke Ingels, the structure is meant to connect “the old and the new Nashville”.<\/p>\n

\"TPAC<\/a>BIG reveals Nashville performing arts centre wrapped in aluminium pipes<\/p>\n

“The whole thing feels very one-note”<\/p>\n

Readers were left split over the project’s flowing facade.<\/p>\n

“I think BIG is executing a nice idea here but would be better if the developers let them finish the concept over the roof. The Google Earth elevation is important!” wrote Z-dog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“As an architect, I recognize the challenge this poses for structural engineers, with such large overhangs in both the main hall and the large auditorium,” reasons Victor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Commenter This is not Hank<\/a> offered a similar critique. “The facade material and articulation could be quite interesting,” he said. “The issue with avant-garde is the uncertainty of aspects like: how will this material weather?<\/p>\n

But the project had as many detractors as admirers.<\/p>\n

“Really underwhelming,” said Par-tea<\/a>. “It feels like a student project that was done the night before the final review from model scraps laying around the studio\u2026 the whole thing feels very one-note.”<\/p>\n

Chris<\/a> agreed, writing, “It does have this awful feeling of being a collection of boxes with some decoration added to hide its mundane appearance.”<\/p>\n

“The Emperor has (almost) no clothes,” joked a second Chris.<\/p>\n

What’s your take? Join the discussion \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Petti<\/a>Mud-coated shipping containers form Petti restaurant in India by Wallmakers<\/p>\n

“Wow, beautiful inside and out!”<\/p>\n

Also cast in the spotlight in this week’s comments section was a restaurant made from mud-coated, stacked shipping containers<\/a> in India, by Wallmakers.<\/p>\n

A few readers were unimpressed by the structure. “I find Wallmakers’ work wilfully heavy-handed,” said Kinetic<\/a>. “This restaurant is no exception.”<\/p>\n

However, many commenters were left intrigued. “Love the external earth brick wall with containers peeking out and giving colour contrast,” said Sharad Merchant<\/a>. “And with alternate empty bays bringing light but also providing privacy; excellent!”<\/p>\n

“Those glazed bays can become prime two-seaters for lovebirds with garden views,” she continued.<\/p>\n

Marius<\/a> agreed. “Well conceived, well executed, sharp-witted, kudos to designers and builders,” he said. “The absence of limitations may be the enemy of art, the authors of these projects had enough restraints and dealt with them excellently.”<\/p>\n

The majority of readers were impressed by the project. “Wow, beautiful inside and out!” said Chris D<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Stunning,” added Roelatmac<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What do you think? Join the discussion \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Beyond<\/a>STARTT opens up concealed ruins behind Pantheon in Rome<\/p>\n

“A trip to Rome is in order”<\/p>\n

Another well-received project in the comments this week was the opening up of the archaeological site behind the Pantheon in Rome<\/a>, by Italian architectural studio STARTT.<\/p>\n

Readers were left impressed, commenting their admiration for the studio’s subtle additions to the ancient structure.<\/p>\n

“Lovely, quiet insertions,” said JZ<\/a>. “The previous building fabric is foregrounded nicely.”<\/p>\n

Marius<\/a> also had nothing but praise, writing, “Stunning complement to one of the greatest buildings ever built. A trip to Rome is in order.”<\/p>\n

More interested in the culture, but positive nonetheless, Keith<\/a> said, “Respect for their amazing talent and history. I love Italy.”<\/p>\n

Pa Varreon<\/a> agreed, “Magnificent work, Italian architects will always demonstrate superior skills in construction.”<\/p>\n

Have you had your say yet?\u00a0Join the discussion \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

Comments update<\/p>\n

Dezeen is the world’s most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page<\/a> and subscribe to our weekly Debate newsletter<\/a>, where we feature the best reader comments from stories in the last seven days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In this week’s comments update, readers are discussing BIG’s designs for the riverside Tennessee Performing Arts Center in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":549890,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[6225,6485,6486,28030,1120,96,20032,77451,40339,40340,43471,72173,56,54,55,659],"class_list":["post-549889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-big","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-nashville","tag-performance-venues","tag-sectionall","tag-sectionarchitecture","tag-sectioncomments","tag-theatres","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=549889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549889\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/549890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=549889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=549889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=549889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}